EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: THE BOBFATHER
By G. Leon

GL:  Congratulations on a great event last weekend.  Can you give us some thoughts on the fight?  "Terriffic fight, a few fighters showed a lot of heart, skill and courage, and gave everything.  It was extremely satisfying to people who love boxing."

GL:  Tell us why the right guy won.

The Bobfather:  I scored Pacquiao 7-5, plus the one point.  I had him ahead by three points.  I think the worst thing, the worst that was 6-6, and he gets the point for the knockdown.  I think the knockdown was pretty crucial.  I think it was a good decision.  Some people scored it the other way, a lot of the rounds were close.  I could see how they could score it the other way.

GL:  Is Pacquiao moving up in weight to fight David Diaz on June 28th?

The Bobfather:  Yes.

GL:  Will the fight take place in Macau?

The Bobfather:  No.

GL:  Where is it going?

The Bobfather:  Las Vegas, The Mandalay Bay.

GL:  PPV or regular HBO?

The Bobfather:  PPV.

GL:  Is a third fight with Marquez possible at 130, or would he have to come up to 135 to make it?

The Bobfather:  It's going to depend on how Manny feels fighting at 135. 

GL:  What do you feel about the David Diaz-Pacquiao fight?

The Bobfather:  I think it's a tough fight.  Diaz is not the most skilled guy, certainly you know you can hit him over the head with a sledgehammer, and you can't budge him.  He never stops trying.  I thing it's going to be a very entertaining tough fight.  Manny is a lot quicker, but I don't see him being able to knock David out.  It will be an exciting fight for the full 12 rounds.

GL:  At this point, do you feel there is more of a demand for Pacquiao to move up in weight than there is for a third fight with Marquez?

The Bobfather:  It's not a question of demand, it's a question of if the guy doesn't feel comfortable at 130, then he should move up to 135.  According to the nutritionist, and Manny himself, he would feel more comfortable at 135.  It's not a question of demand.  If he could fight at 130 without any problem, I assume he would stay at 130.

GL:  Looking pretty far ahead, hypotheticly speaking, if Manny moves up and captures the WBC title, Nate Cambell has all the other belts, but he's promoted by Don King.  Is there any chance that you and King will work together to put a fight on that will have one guy with all four belts?

The Bobfather:  Not only is there a chance, but Don King and I would love the opportunity to work together.  We go at each other, hammer and saw?, and we create a lot of publicity, but I would love to work with Don again on a big fight, and I'm sure he feels the same way about me. 

GL:  So Pacquiao-Diaz could get done.

The Bobfather:  Yes, as a matter of fact, there's no commitment, but we've already at least raised the subject with each other.

GL:  So, you're already talking about the what-if's, thinking three moves ahead like a chess player?

The Bobfather:  Yeah, we've talked about it, sure.

GL:  You have several events coming up, April 12th being the next big one.  Give us some thoughts on that.

The Bobfather:  That's a splendid double-header.  I think Gomez is a lot better than some of the pundits give him credit for.  He's a rugged guy, he loves to fight, and the co-feature with Cintron and Margarito is a very exciting welterweight fight.  If Cotto wins on April 12th, it sets up a tremendous match between Cotto and the other champion.

GL:  The winner of the Margarito-Cintron fight?

The Bobfather:  Yes.

GL:  As we stated in previous interviews, if they want to fight, they have to vacate the title because Clottey is the mandatory.

The Bobfather:  Yeah, that would certainly be the case.  If that were the case, and Clottey won that title, he would be in line to continue the battle.  In other words, he would get a shot at a big money fight. 

GL:  I didn't know you'd let Clottey in the same state as Cotto. 

The Bobfather:  Absolutely, it's a great fight.  Don't you think?

GL:  I think it's a great fight.  I'd love to see it.

The Bobfather:  If the chips fall, it'll happen.

GL:  Is Kelly Pavlik and Gary Lockett a done deal?

The Bobfather:  Yes.

GL:  Other than Pavlik, tell us why Pavlik and Lockett will be an exciting fight.

The Bobfather:  Lockett can punch pretty good, and takes a very good punch.  As far as the fight goes, it's going to be an entertaining and interesting fight.  He's a rugged son on a bitch, and as I said, he fires punches, and he has a very good chin.  Kelly's not going to be able to blast him out of there.  I assume that Kelly, down the line, is going to win the fight, but it's going to be after a struggle. 

GL:  Winky Wright came on the record, and said that he and Golden Boy Promotions were ready to offer Pavlik $4,000,000 to fight him in Cleveland.  With Pavlik fighting Lockett, that can't happen on June 7th.  What are the chances of that fight taking place in Cleveland at a later date? 

The Bobfather:  None.

GL:  So, Winky Wright will never get a Pavlik fight?

The Bobfather:  Never say never, but he's certainly not in our plans for the remainder of the year.

GL:  Pavlik's not fighting on PPV for the remainder of the year.

The Bobfather:  That is correct.

GL:  What else, Bobfather?

The Bobfather:  That's it, everythings going on.  Don't ask me, because I don't know the number, but the preliminary reports for Saturday's fight are coming in very nicely.

GL:  Give me closing thoughts.

The Bobfather:  I'm happy for boxing fans getting a great fight this weekend.  We've got a lot more great events coming in 2008, and it's always a pleasure to be on BoxingTalk.